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Handbook of Operating Procedures
  • Policy Process

    • Handbook of Operating Procedures
    Chapter 2 - Faculty and Academics
    Previous Publication Date: February 3, 2012
    Publication Date: December 15, 2020
    Policy Reviewed Date: September 11, 2020
    Policy Owner: VP for Academic Affairs


    2.46 Faculty Rights and Responsibilities

    This is not the current policy. For the latest, click here.

    I. POLICY STATEMENT

    Faculty members at The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) are entitled to rights, with associated responsibilities, related to their research and teaching. They must exercise those rights and responsibilities in a professional manner.

    II. RATIONALE

    The policy asserts faculty members rights and provides parameters for the exercise of those rights by describing related responsibilities.

    III. SCOPE

    This policy applies to all UTSA faculty.

    IV. WEBSITE ADDRESS FOR THIS POLICY

    http://www.utsa.edu/hop/chapter2/2.46.html

    V. RELATED STATUTES, POLICIES, REQUIREMENTS OR STANDARDS

    UTSA or UT System Policies or the Board of Regents' Rules and Regulations

    1. Regents' Rule 31004, Rights and Responsibilities of Faculty Members
    2. Regents' Rule 30103, Standards of Conduct
    3. UTSA Handbook of Operating Procedures (HOP) policy 2.11, Annual Faculty Performance Appraisal for Merit Pay Consideration
    4. UTSA HOP policy 2.15, Textbooks and Other Materials by UTSA Faculty Prescribed for Student Use
    5. UTSA HOP policy 2.16, Acceptance of Money from Students
    6. UTSA HOP policy 2.23, Professional Expectations for Faculty
    7. UTSA HOP policy 4.07, Payment of Salary Supplements to University Employees and Non-Standard Payments to Persons who are not Employees of The University of Texas at San Antonio
    8. UTSA HOP policy 4.19, Involvement of the University and University Personnel in Community or Political Affairs

    VI. CONTACTS

    If you have any questions about HOP policy 2.46, Faculty Rights and Responsibilities, contact the following office(s):

    Office of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at
    210-458-4110

    VII. DEFINITIONS

    General Faculty:  The General Faculty of UTSA is composed only of academically qualified personnel as listed in HOP policy 2.02, Faculty Titles and Tenure Status.

    VIII. RESPONSIBILITIES

    1. Faculty member
      1. Ensures that they exercise their academic and teaching rights in a responsible and professional manner.
    2. Department Chair and Dean
      1. Ensures that faculty members have freedom in research and teaching within the parameters of this policy.

    IX. PROCEDURES

    1. Faculty members of UTSA are entitled to full freedom in research and in the publication of the results, subject to the adequate performance of their other academic duties.
    2. Faculty members are entitled to freedom in the classroom in discussing their subject, but they are expected not to introduce into their teaching controversial matter that has no relation to the subject.
    3. UTSA faculty members are citizens, members of learned societies, and officers of educational institutions supported by the state. When they speak or write as citizens, faculty members should be free from institutional censorship or discipline, but should make it plain that they are not institutional spokespersons.  

    X. SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR IMPLEMENTATION

    None

    XI. FORMS AND TOOLS/ONLINE PROCESSES

    None

    XII. APPENDIX

    None

    XIII. Dates Approved/Amended

    12-15-2020
    02-03-2012